Lady Thatcher's coffin will today be moved to a Westminster chapel for a
private family service ahead of Wednesday's funeral.

The former Prime Minister's coffin will be laid in the chapel of St Mary Undercroft in the Palace of Westminster where her close relatives and colleagues will gather for a memorial this afternoon.

Some seats will also be reserved for MPs and parliamentary staff who worked with Lady Thatcher during her 11 years in Downing Street.

A book of condolences will be open in the crypt and members will be able to pay their respects. Before tomorrow's funeral, the Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin, the Speaker's Chaplain, will maintain a night-time vigil in the historic chapel, which dates back to 1297 under King Edward I.

The Government has ordered a full ceremonial funeral involving more then 700 members of the armed forces. Lady Thatcher's coffin will be carried by hearse and then gun carriage to St Pauls for the service before up to 2,000 guests, including all former living UK prime ministers.

However, several MPs will today object to the fact the funeral will disrupt parliamentary business.

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Dennis Skinner, a Labour MP, is today launching an attempt to stop Wednesday's Prime Minister's questions being cancelled by the funeral.

George Galloway, an MP for the fringe Respect Party, has also spoken out against the cost and timing of the event for Lady Thatcher. He described it as "unconscionable" that Mr Cameron will miss Prime Minister's questions for four weeks in a row.

MPs are expected to debate the issue for up to three hours today, with Conservatives preparing to speak out in favour of honouring their former leader.

There are fears Wednesday's funeral will be disrupted by protestors against Lady Thatcher's controversial leadership.

Whitehall sources said security for the procession and ceremony will be looked at again, following the suspected bombings in Boston.

Lord Reid, the former Labour Defence Secretary, said security forces are facing a "massive task" but are up to the job of keeping the public safe.